Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Sept. 4, I900.

W. M. CROW. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR. (Applicatien filed Nov. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

198a 'fem ffQPDZQyS n'rrn STATES P TENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. CROW, OF LAKEVIEW, CALIFORNIA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,190, dated September 4, 1900. Application filed November 11, 1899. Serial No. 736,631- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,WILLIAM M. CROW,3. citizen of the United States,residing at Lakeview, in the county of Riverside and State of California, have invented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas generators capable of embodiment in lamps and in generating plants.

One object is the construction of a generator adapted to contain within itself a watertank, a carbid-receptacle, and the elements necessary for the generation of acetylene gas.

A further object is to provide improved means for feeding water by down-seepage to the carbid and to regulate the quantity of water seeping down to the carbid and the amount of gas flowing therefrom by manuallyoperable devices.

A further object is to provide means for venting the generator in case of excessive accumulation of gas in order to minimize the liability of explosion.

A further object is to provide means, nonmetallic as well as metallic, to conduct the gas to any part of a house, hall, or other place.

The invention consists in instrumentalities for attaining the above-named objects and in the construction of parts which will be here inafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved generator embodied as a portable lamp. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of a part of the generator. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are views in side elevation and plan of a valvestem.

Like numerals denote like parts in the drawings.

One element or part of my generator is a column or shell 10, which is provided with gastight caps 13 14 at the ends. One cap may be made stationary, while the other cap is screw-threaded or forced friction-tight by screw-pressure to a seat on the column. This single column or shell is capable of containing all the elements necessary forthe generation of acetylene gas. Within the upper part of the column is a water tank or vessel 25, from which water descends by down-seepage to oarbid which is contained within a carbid-receptacle 23, the latter being arranged in the lower end of the column. This column also contains a valve to control and regulate the quantity of Water which passes by downseepage from the water-tank to the carbidreceptacle, and with said valve is associated a manually operable spindle and an intermediate valve-stem.

The element or part referred to as the manually-operated spindle is indicated at 43. Said spindle is cased in a gas-tight rubber sleeve 46, said sleeve being made gas-tight by being secured to a solid bearing 47. The spindle works in a metallic bearing or bushing 44, which is covered by the gas-tight sleeve, and this rubber-covered bushing is forced tightly in the bearing 47 at the upper end of the generator.

The element or part referred to as the valve is indicated at 33 as arranged to close the water; passage between the water-tank and the carbid-receptacle, and with this water-valve is combined the feed-wick 35. This feed-wick is attached to the valve to feed water by down-seepage to the carbid. The Valve is provided with a spiral spring 34, which is of sutlicient strength to lift said valve and the valve-operating rod when the pressure is off. The spring raises 'the valve and opens the Water-passage in order to increase the quantity of water seeping down to the carbid, and this increases the flow of gas as desired. The valve, the valve-rod, and the threaded spindle all act at the same time and to the same end.

The element or partreferred to as the valve-rod is indicated at 15 and is provided with enlarged or flared ends 36 37,which serve to guide the valve-rod in its slidable play in the water-tank. The lower flared end of the valve-rod rests on top of the valve 33, while the inner extremity of the threaded spindle bears upon the upper end of the valve-rod. WVhen the threaded spindle is adjusted by turning it in one direction, the valve-rod is forced downward, and it serves to depress the valve, so as to close it in whole or in part, as may be desired, whereby the valve is controlled by the manually-operable spindle, the latter working in the threaded bearing within the rubber sleeve. By this means the 2 cameo and the quantity of gas flowing therefrom can be completely controlled.

Another element or part of my generator is a vent-stopper 49, inserted into a nipple 48 on the head 14 for the purpose of venting the generator. In case of excessive gas-generation the stopper is lifted from its seat and passes gently out, relieving the generator of excessive gas and making explosion impossible.

Another element of my generator is anoning of a rubber hose 19, whichm ay be employed for conveying the gas to any part of the house, a hall, or other place. The inner end of this hose is secured to a nipple 20 on the; upper end of the generator, while the:

22'. The nipple 20 may have astop-cock 2 1.

My generator may be embodied ina hanging lamp, or it may be constructed as a portablev lamp, as shown by Figs. 1 and 2. In this adaptation shown by the drawings. the lamp has a base 11 and a handle 12. If desired,.the cap 14: may be equipped witha plug 16, adapted to receive the burner 17, said burner having a cook 18, as shown by Fig. 2. The threaded spindle 43 has a suitablefi-n-gerpiece 45.

In theembodiment of the. invention shown by Figs. 2, 3, and 4: the communication between the water-tank and the carbid-receptacle is cut ofii' by the plug 26, which is inserted in the lower end of the tank and is made tight therein by the packing 27. The lower part ofv this plug extends into the: carbid. vessel, and said plug is provided with a series of channels 28, which communicate with ports 24,formed in the wall of the carbidreceptacle, thus permitting the gas to escape from the carbid-receptacle intoa space 29, from whence the gas passes to the upper part ofithegenerator. The water-passagebetween the tank 25 and the vessel 23 is shown as formed by a pipe 30, embeddedin the plng26, said pipe containing the spiral spring 34:- and apart. of the feed-wick. The upper end of this feed-wick is shown as attached to a boss 32 on. the under side of the valve 33-; but the employment of this tube and theboss may be dispensed with.

It is my practice to provide a packed seat for the screw-cap13. posed between the column and the cap, soas to be compressed between the parts andafford a gas-tight joint, which wholly overcomes leakage of the gas. By removing the cap-13 the interior carbid and water receptacles may be removed from the outer in:- closing colu-mn, shell,. or case 10 to enable; them tobesupplied with carbid and water as may be required. In practice the water-tank should be soproportioned in size to the carbid-receptacle as to hold aboutenough: Water to generate all the gas the carbid charge is capable of making.

The packing is inter-- What I claim is- 1. An acetylene-gas generator, comprislng a gas-tight column or outer case, the carbidreceptacle and the water-receptacle therein,

the latter above the former, the feed-wick extending. through an opening between said carbid-receptacle and said Water-receptacle,a

spring to raise said wick and the valve to lowerthe same,.and hence vary the area thereof in contact with the water in the water-receptacle, and means for controlling the movementof the valve, substantially as described. metallic means for conducting gas, consist; f

' bination with the water-receptacle and carbid-receptacle, the former disposed above the 2. In an acetylene-gas generator, the comlatter, of a pendent water-feed wick in an opening between said receptacles a spring to 1 raise said wick a valveto lower the same, outer end of the. hose is attached to: a, burner I and hence vary the area thereof in contact with the water in the water-receptacle, and means for controlling the movement of the valve, substantially as described.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the. combinationwith the water-receptacle, and the carbid-receptaclebelow it, of the verticallyadjustable seepage-wick in the water channel or opening between said receptacle, and dependingjin the carbid-receptacle,whereby the area of said seepage-wick in contact with the water in thewater-receptacle may be varied,

" for the purpose set forth, and means for adjustin-g'said wick, substantially as described. 4.. In aniacetylenergas generator, the outer 1 inclosizng. case forming the gas-holder, and the separable water and carbid receptacles disposed one abovev the-other and both contained in the said outer case, said Water and carbid receptacles having the plug 26- connecting their meeting ends and said plug having thev water-channel adapted for the reception of a vertically-movable seepage-wick, and

means for adjusting said wick, substantially as described.

5; In an acetylene-gas generator, the outer incl'osing case: forming the gas-holder, the

, water andcarbid receptacles therein and dis posed one above the other and having a communicating channel or opening, the vertically-movable seepage-wick in said opening or channel, the spring to. elevate said wick, the

valve on the upper end of said wick, whereby .the area of the latter in contact with the water in the. water-receptacle may be varied to regulate the quantity of water fed to the carbid, and means; for moving the valve, all

' the-gasrholder,theseparable water and carbid receptacles located therein, the plugbetween said receptacles, having the gas-channels that register with. gas-escape openings in the carbid receptacle, the vertically movable seepage-wick in an opening orchannel in said plug, communicating with said water and carbid receptacles, the valve on the upper end of said wick, for the purpose set forth,

intermediate valve-rod, for the purpose set forth, substantially as described.

8. The pendent, adjustable seepage-wick 35, having the weight-tip at its lower end, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 20 the presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM M. CROWV.

W'itnesses:

WILLIAM G. WEBER, HERMAN A. PRIOR. 

